Bill would extend working hours for teens

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Some teens in Ohio could soon be permitted to work longer hours during the school year. 

The current law permits 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. when school is not in session. Senate Bill 50 would allow those students to work until 9 p.m. year-round. 

“My concern is that there are still federal laws that say that they shouldn't be working those later hours,” State Sen. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati) said. “One concern, too, is what are they doing at those later hours?”

“There are folks that are 14 and 15 who want to work hours,” State Sen. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield) said. “These are the same students that are playing in sports that last until much longer than 7, 8 at night. So, there's no reason that these folks, with their parents’ permission, with the school’s permission, shouldn't be allowed to work a few extra hours during the school year.” 

Under the bill, a student must obtain permission to work the extended hours by a parent or guardian; Ingram said she is concerned that these decisions may not always be in the best interest of the child. 

“Despite the fact that the parent, who may need the money, has allowed that child to go work that day, are they not forcing the child to work more hours,” she said. 

What about getting homework done? Koehler said he does not think an added two hours to a student’s workday will be too impactful. 

“It doesn't seem to concern anybody when we talk about football and basketball with volleyball, which lasts a lot longer than that,” he said. “Some of these kids are on traveling sports teams that travel all over the country. Yes, there's a concern, but I think with a parent’s consent and with the school’s consent, I think those are issues that will be dealt with locally with each student as we go forward.”

Ingram agreed that having a job is valuable for teenagers, but she said not comparable to being an athlete. 

“That child is playing that sport because they want to,” she said. “It may well be that that child has to work until 9 p.m. because that's a shift they've been given, and they don’t want to work until 9 o’clock.”  

Ingram said she worries about this bill being the start to a “slippery slope,” chipping away at child labor laws. She introduced an amendment to the bill to fine employers $50,000 for knowingly violating any of the restrictions related to the hours a minor may be employed. 

“If it’s only a slap on the wrist, how many times are you going to keep doing it,” she said. “This is all about workers and creating new ways for employers to get them. But we never hold the employer responsible for taking care of those employees.” 

The amendment was tabled and not added to the bill. Koehler said there are already protections in existing law. 

“There are several pages in the Ohio Revised Code surrounding laws regarding the employment of minors,” Koehler said. “Based on the testimony we’ve heard while deliberating this bill, I don’t see the need for added language.”  

Changing this law is not as straightforward as others. In order for many Ohio businesses to be able to extend working hours for 14- and-15-year-olds, the federal government needs to change the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). That’s why there is also a resolution from state lawmakers to urge Congress to do so and allow extended hours for these teens.    

Koehler said there are employers out there who are good and “willing to give individuals who are young their first job experience.” 
 
“Getting people to understand that you work hard and there's a benefit in pay that comes with that, that's so important,” he said. “Instilling that in students as early as possible.” 

The bill passed the Ohio Senate Workforce Development Committee on Tuesday on party lines and will likely be on the Senate floor Wednesday. If it passes that chamber, it will go to the House for consideration.